Oakland: Beauty, Barbers, & Wellness City Guide

Known for its diversity, its thriving arts scene, and its long and fascinating history, Oakland, California is one of the most exciting cities on the West Coast. While some people still confuse it for a suburb of San Francisco, the warmer, sunnier city-across-the-Bay is a culinary and cultural powerhouse in its own right. According to the Practical Wanderlust blog, you can travel from the ocean to downtown to a Redwood forest in just twenty minutes and stay within the city limits of Oakland the entire time. Take a stroll around beautiful Lake Merritt, check out the free First Fridays event at the Oakland Museum of California, or eat delicious food from every corner of the globe on Telegraph Avenue. And for visitors and locals alike, we compiled a list of some of the beauty highlights of the East Bay. These businesses consistently provide top-notch beauty, health, and wellness services to their community, and that quality is reflected in their local reputation as well as the reviews they receive on Booksy.

Beauty

Undeniable Perfection​

799-701 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94607

Undeniable Perfection is a hair salon that specializes in lace frontal installations, sew-in extensions, coloring, and ponytails. Clients praise Da’Ron, the stylist, for his “great service, amazing talent, and funny and sweet” personality. Others write that he’s a “perfectionist who takes his time,” and that he’s “really funny and polite.” Undeniable Perfection is accessible by public transportation, located in the Jack London neighborhood of Oakland near the Lake Merritt BART station.

Renelle

5400 Bancroft Ave, Oakland, 94601

Renelle is a salon in the Fairfax Business district of Oakland named after its stylist, Renelle. She specializes in extensions, braids, hair trims, silk presses, sew-ins, and hair maintenance. Her clients praise Renelle’s neat braiding, her “fast, super-efficient” work, and the welcoming atmosphere of her salon. One client who’s been visiting Renelle for over five years wrote that she’s “never been disappointed,” and that even if Renelle is busy or she has to wait for a booking, it’s always “worth the wait!”

Christina Ocasio

807 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607

Christina Ocasio is a West Oakland-based hairstylist whose salon is located in the Lower Bottoms neighborhood right by the San Francisco Bay. She offers haircuts and coloring, as well as deep conditioning treatments, keratin treatments, hair relaxing services, braids, extension removal, and makeup services. One client who’s been visiting Christina for seven years wrote that in addition to her skill with hair, she’s also a “friend, therapist, and confidant.” Other clients have noted that she, “cares about the condition of your hair,” “always does an excellent job,” and that she’s especially talented with color.

Dinah Oubkeo

807 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607

Dinah Oubkeo provides cut and coloring services, lash services, blowouts, and hair therapy treatments to her clients in the Lower Bottoms neighborhood of West Oakland. Her reviews acknowledge the “effort and care” she puts into her work, with one customer writing that she “always leaves the salon feeling special.” Another client praised the atmosphere of her salon, noting that the environment is “modern, clean, and fresh.”

A Touch of Paris

8701 international Blvd, Oakland, 94621

A Touch of Paris salon is located on Highway 185 near the Oakland Coliseum. Paris, the stylist, offers a variety of hair care services, including cornrows, butterfly braids, extensions, and straightening services. Her clients praise her “neat and precise styles,” as well as the fact that she “takes her time and does it right.” Paris works with children as well as adults, offering box braids for kids. One client who sees Paris for her own hair as well as her family’s wrote, “She’s been our family braider for years, and there’s a reason for that. She knows what she’s doing—achieving your desired look without compromising the health of your hair!”

Barbers

His Imperial Majesty Barbershop

2606 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, 94602

His Imperial Majesty Barbershop is located on 46th and MLK in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland. The shop is known in the community for its relaxing atmosphere, cleanliness, and “good vibe.” Clients praise the excellent service and attention to detail of the barbers, with one customer praising the “great service, hot music, and dope books!,” and another writing, “He has blessed hands, his skills are amazing, and he takes his time to make sure you are satisfied before leaving his chair.”

Mons Barber Shope

1462 High St, B, Oakland, 94612

The East Oakland-based barbershop Monsbarbershope offers haircuts, beard trims, and bald head shaves to its clients. Customers love it for the “great atmosphere and wonderful conversations.”

Nails

Nailsxbella

Ampco System Parking, 525 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Located smack-dab in the middle of downtown Oakland, Nailsxbella offers a variety of nail services, from gel manicures to acrylics, glitter, crystals, and marble and chrome designs. Clients describe Bella as “nice and friendly,” with customers praising her talent with their nails.

The Nail Circus

3rd St, 248, 476, Oakland, 94607 

Conveniently located in the Jack London neighborhood of Oakland, the Nail Circus offers a range of services, from basic nail care to “crazy art.” They provide a standard mani-pedi, as well as gel manicures, acrylic nails, lash extensions, and waxing services, so it’s a perfect one-stop shop for a variety of beauty needs.

Estrella Color & Arte

2126 62nd Ave, Oakland, 94621

Estrella Color & Arte offers nail care services that include both gel manicures and acrylics. Located in the Seminar district of Oakland near the Coliseum, the salon also offers mini facials to clients. Their photos advertise long, glittery, iridescent nail art that’s sure to turn heads.

Shalita’s Nails

Moods Beauty Bar, 404 14th St, Oakland, 94612

Shalita’s Nails is a salon in downtown Oakland that offers classic and gel mani-pedis, along with sea salt pedicures, massage options, and a Polish change service. Clients praise the technician’s “extra attention to detail,” writing, “She is quite crafty and made the experience very relaxing. I left feeling very pampered.”

Oh My Nails

24293 Mission Blvd, Hayward, 94544

This Hayward-based nail salon offers classic manicure and pedicure services, along with add-ons that include acrylics, shellac, and French tips, to name a few. In addition to their nail care services, customers can also stop by for waxing, eyelash extensions, and facials. One client wrote that the technicians “always take their time so there’s no imperfections.” Other reviews noted the friendly atmosphere of the salon and the technicians’ consistent good work.

Health & Wellness

Beautiful As I Am

7th St, Berkeley, 94710

Located in Berkeley, Beautiful As I Am is a spa that offers facials, lash extensions, and waxing services. Regular customers appreciate the spa’s warm, welcoming, and relaxing atmosphere, with one customer praising the “gorgeous work” of the employees and the relaxing experience they provided. Another wrote, “Not only is Neff beautiful, but she makes you feel beautiful as well. She inspires you to look and feel your best while providing excellent service.”

Moi Lash SPA

Solano Ave, 1702, Berkeley, 94707

Moi is a Berkeley-based medical spa that offers hydrodermabrasion, eyelash extensions, microblading, permanent makeup, scalp micropigmentation, and eyebrow maintenance services. One customer wrote, “I left Moi feeling recharged and re-energized,” and another praised the “fantastic vibe” as well as the “professional, knowledgeable, welcoming, warm, caring” staff.

Chirology Group

2121 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Suite E-201, Walnut Creek, 94518

Chirology Group is a local wellness group based in Walnut Creek. Board-certified physician Dr. Clinton F. Cabero provides chiropractic therapy in addition to overseeing cold laser therapy, cupping, and corporate ergonomic evaluations. The program aims to assist patients in improving their overall health so they can live fuller, happier lives.

The Fluffy Lashes

Brockhurst St, 694, Oakland, 94609

This home-based studio in the Hoover-Foster neighborhood of West Oakland offers lash extensions and refills as well as lash removal and lash bath services. One customer wrote that she “made me feel comfortable,” and praised her technician’s friendliness and sense of humor, adding that two and a half hours “felt like thirty minutes.”

Hena Rainge Massage Therapy

3862 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, 94611

Hena Rainge Massage Therapy is a studio in the Piedmont neighborhood of Oakland that offers a variety of massages, as well as acupressure and acutonics services. For those unfamiliar, acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but instead of using needles, technicians apply finger pressure to stimulate the meridians and acu-points of a patient’s body. Clients praised Hena Rainge, writing, “Sitting in gratitude for having this experience! A reminder of the sacredness of touch.” Another customer simply wrote, “Her work is magical.”